The mission of the ecology learning center is to deeply root students in Maine's ecological & cultural landscapes, foster authentic real-world learning through mentorship & craft, and cultivate compassionate and resilient leaders prepared to engage in the challenges of today & tomorrow.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
77¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 7 volunteers and 53 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $260K a year · 17% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
77%
of spending
Looks good: 77% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$71K
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.2 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $32K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$372K
21% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 21% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
7
of 7 voting members
Looks good: 7 of 7 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.7M
-30% vs prior year
Spent
$1.7M
To programs
77%
Net assets
$1.4M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$1.7M
FY2025▼ -30%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$941K
FY2022$1.1M
FY2023$1.5M
FY2024$2.4M
FY2025$1.7M
Expenses
$1.7M
FY2025▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$562K
FY2022$1.1M
FY2023$1.4M
FY2024$1.6M
FY2025$1.7M
Net assets
$1.4M
FY2025+0.2%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$469K
FY2022$446K
FY2023$594K
FY2024$1.4M
FY2025$1.4M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Sep 2019.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

77 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 77% · $1.3M Management & general 23% · $381K Fundraising 0% · $2K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

8 people listed on the 990; $71K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Exec. Director / Head of S
$70,900Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Leza Packard$70,900$69,747$57,000$58,850$50,000

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Ecology Learning Center executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Connects students with Maine's nature and culture through hands-on learning and mentorship.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $1.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

In academic year 2023-2024 (FY24), Ecology Learning Center provided education to approximately 107 students grades 9-12.In Biology, students assessed three local bodies of water: Sandy Stream, Bacon Brook, and Unity Pond. In History, students researched and conducted a formal debate over the controversial Central Maine Power corridor.

$1.3Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$32K
See all 3 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$67K
Other incomeLn 4–11$13K
Money outPt IX
$1.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.3M
Managementcol C$381K
Fundraisingcol D$2K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$173K
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$372K
PeoplePt VI, VII
8
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a7
IndependentVI 1b7
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.5M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$10K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$67K
Investment incomeLn 3$12K
Other incomeLn 4–11$13K
Gains on assetsLn 7$12K
Total revenueLn 12$1.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$173K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$173K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.5M
Other assetsLn 15$22K
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$372K
Net assetsLn 32$1.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 553
VolunteersI 67
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$132K$173K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.6M$1.5M
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$433K$372K
Net assetsLn 32$1.4M$1.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$71K$53K$18K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$885K$657K$228K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$84K$65K$19K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$14K$14K
Payroll taxesLn 10$43K$24K$19K
Accounting feesLn 11c$16K$16K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$77K$77K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2K$1K$566
Office expensesLn 13$47K$45K$2K
OccupancyLn 16$38K$38K
TravelLn 17$77K$77K
InterestLn 20$13K$13K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$84K$84K
InsuranceLn 23$32K$3K$29K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$187K$183K$3K
All other expensesLn 24e$3K$753$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.7M$1.3M$381K$2K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $1.7M$1.7M$3K$1.4M 990 PDF
FY2024 $2.4M$1.6M$796K$1.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.5M$1.4M$148K$594K 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.1M$1.1M−$23K$446K 990 PDF
FY2021 $941K$562K$379K$469K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,675,076 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,339,554$1,583,037
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $51,317$66,922
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$12,000
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$4,419$13,117
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,386,452$1,675,076
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,105,727$1,096,649
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $484,908$575,595
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,590,635$1,672,244
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $795,817$2,832
Part VI · Governance 7 of 7 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body7
VI-1b Independent voting members7
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,675,076 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$1,509,108
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$73,929
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$9,832
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,583,037
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $66,922$66,922
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossUnrelated business −$5 · Excluded from tax −$9−$14
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $12,000$12,000
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $13,131$13,131
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $80,053 · Unrelated business −$5 · Excluded from tax $11,991$1,675,076
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,672,244 across 16 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $52,536 · Management $18,364$70,900
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $657,088 · Management $227,680$884,768
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $64,878 · Management $18,897$83,775
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $13,819$13,819
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $24,393 · Management $18,994$43,387
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $15,942$15,942
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $76,700$76,700
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $1,062 · Fundraising $566$1,628
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $45,287 · Fundraising $1,702$46,989
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $38,129$38,129
IX-17 TravelPrograms $77,430$77,430
IX-20 InterestPrograms $13,130$13,130
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $84,198$84,198
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $3,108 · Management $28,937$32,045
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $183,237 · Management $3,495$186,732
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $753 · Management $1,919$2,672
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,289,399 · Management $380,577 · Fundraising $2,268$1,672,244
Part X · Balance sheet $1,764,708 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $131,693$172,791
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $55,104$55,005
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,593,760$1,514,525
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $42,433$22,387
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,822,990$1,764,708
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $108,915$107,888
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $3,600$600
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $42,433$22,387
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $433,239$372,125
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,329,942$1,385,305
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $59,809$7,278
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,389,751$1,392,583
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,822,990$1,764,708
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,392,583 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,675,076
XI-2 Total expenses$1,672,244
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,832
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,389,751
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,392,583

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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